Why Utility Company, Inc.P0 Box 7128Why, AZ. 85321

2002 Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report

Why Utility Co., Inc. is committed to providing its customers with a safe and reliable supply of drinking water. We are required under EPA/ADEQ rules to take scheduled water samples. These samples are tested by State Certified laboratories to check for various forms of chemical and biological contamination. This annual report, required by the Safe Drinking Water Act, tells you where your water comes from, what it contains, and other general information you should know about your drinking water.

The water supplied to customers of the Why Utility Company is pumped from two wells located at the comer of Ball Road and Mesquite Lane in the community of Why, Arizona. It is groundwater and is pumped from a depth of 809 feet.

Testing Requirements: The Company is required to collect one sample each month, which is tested for microbiological contamination. These samples are collected from a different location in the community each month, a total of 12 each year. We also test for inorganic compounds and volatile organic compounds on a schedule set by ADEQ. We also test for other contaminants as required. These tests were completed by Aqua Tech Environmental Laboratories, Inc. for the current year. We have received monitoring waivers for Synthetic Organic Compounds due to the fact that previous testing showed no detects of any of these compounds.

Health Information: Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from your health care provider. (Our highest nitrate level was 4.50ppm.)

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes limits on the amount of certain contaminants in water supplied by public water systems. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonable be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information may be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4971.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than is the general population. Immuno-comprised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.

As previously noted, our source of tap water is two deep wells. As water travels through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage
treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.

Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as
agriculture, storm water runoff and residential uses.

Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, storm water runoff, and septic systems.

Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and
gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Explanation of the Water Quality Data Table - Below, we have listed all the contaminants detected during 2002. The column marked Average represents the average of our two wells. The column marked High represents the highest test result for that contaminant. We have also included major sources of the contaminants showing where each substance originates. Terms used in the table and in other parts of this report are defined below.

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

NA - Not Applicable

ND - Not Detected

Ppm - Parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/l)

< - Less Than

Detected Contaminats Report for Why Utility Co., Inc.

Contaminant

Unit

MCL

HighestLevelDetected

Range ofLevelsDetected

Sample Year

Violation

Nitrate

Ppm

10

4.50

4.50

2001

no

Nitrite

Ppm

1

<0.01

<0.01

2001

no

Lead

Ppm

.015

0.005

0.005

2002

no

Copper

Ppm

1.3

0.005

0.005

2002

no

Arsenic

Ppm

0.050

0.176

0.104 -0.176

2002

yes

Why Utility Co., Inc. monitor for Arsenic during year 2002. Samples were taken quarterly, results were made available to customers along with the mailing of their water bills. Company installed a Reverse Osmosis Water Vending Machine at the Why Community Building to make treated water available for all customers, also the general public.

Miller Brooks Environmental, Inc. have completed the engineering study to install a treatment plant that would remove the arsenic to comply with the EPA requirements. Why Utility Co., Inc. is seeking funding to pay for the project.

If you have any questions regarding this Water Quality Report please contact the Office
at 669 N. 2nd Ave., Ajo, AZ. 85321, Phone (520) 387-7641.